The film from 2001 “Joy Ride” revolves around three major cast members. The beautiful Leelee Sobieski (who starred not long ago in ‘The Glass House’), Steve Zahn (who has another funny role in the comedy ‘Happy, Texas’), and Paul Walker (who co-starred in ’’The Skulls’’) all three end up on a road trip together. Walker and Sobieski both play college students who hook up together on a cross country ride during a break from school. Walker finds out that his older brother is in jail, so he takes a detour to go bail him out. Zahn is obviously more of a “trouble maker” than his younger brother. He is also very funny and the life of the party so to speak.
The excitement all starts after Zahn gets this idea to play a joke on a trucker after buying a CB radio for the car. Walker pretends to be a woman with the CB radio name “Candy Cane” and when a trucker named “Rusty Nail” answers them, they arrange for the trucker to meet “Candy Cane” at a motel room nearby. Then they get the room next door so they can have a laugh at the trucker’s expense when he finds out he’s been tricked; that there is no woman going to meet him at all.
The trouble really begins when the next morning they discover that the trucker didn’t find the prank in the motel room funny at all. Not only did he seriously injure the occupant of the motel, but he then begins stalking and terrorizing the group of young people. I found this movie to be a fun “joy ride” indeed, with on the “edge of your seat” tension and scares. Some of the script doesn’t make total sense, such as how the trucker finds out the names of the three friends. And he keeps turning up in unexpected places, stretching credibility. But I can overlook those little faults because the fear factor makes the movie as a whole very fun to watch.
The truck driver’s voice is very deep and gravely which makes him sound really angry and menacing. Every time his voice comes booming over the CB radio it makes you want to jump along with the characters in that car. The suspense is what makes “Joy Ride” such an exciting ride. The characters are all sweet enough teens that we can easily root for. Zahn’s character adds just the right amount of comedy to give you some laughs between the screams!
“Joy Ride” was written for the screen by Clay Tarver and Jeffrey Abrams and was directed by John Dahl. I recommend the movie to anybody who likes the thriller/suspense type of movies. It is rated R for violence and strong language. The suspenseful music throughout adds to the exciting pace. Certainly would make you think twice about pulling any kind of prank or trick on somebody, especially a total stranger who you have no idea how they will take the joke!